9/11 at 20 – They Have Names

9/11 at 20 – They Have Names

9/11 after 20 years is not, for me, about the Towers burning and collapsing. It’s about the names.

Every year for the past decade I have written a 9/11 Anniversay post. This year has been harder than usual because of the stain of Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal fiasco, a product of his desire to exploit this date. The result is Biden has allowed our enemies to rejoice over us as they did 20 years ago.

But I can’t let my disgust with the Biden administration cause me not to remember this day and the people who perished. I’ll recount some of the posts I’ve done, and some of the names.

My most vivid memory was the sound. I never have been able to erase that sound from my memory.

Each of those PASS  (Personal Alert Safety System) devices represented a fallen hero, and among them were over 2000 more office workers for whom no siren sounded, but they all had names.

One of those names was Melissa Harrington Hughes, who I wrote about in my first 9/11 Anniversary post in 2011, 9/11/01 and Memory:

Memory is a strange thing.

There are many things I remember about the attacks on 9/11/01:  The first announcement when I was at my desk in Providence that a “small plane” had hit the World Trade Center, the announcement of a second “small plane” and then the reality; the collapse of the buildings, something that was unimaginable; the films of people jumping from windows above the flames; and the images of medical staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital and elsewhere who waited for thousands of injured who never appeared because there were so few survivors.

But three things keep coming back to me.

***

Third, the farewell messages from people trapped above the flames or on Flight 93 left on answering machines of loved ones.

The one I remember most vividly was that of Melissa Harrington Hughes who was visiting New York on business.  Melissa did speak to her father, who recounts the events here, and then left this message for her husband who was asleep in San Francisco and didn’t answer the phone in time.  When he tried to call her back, the call didn’t go through.

Another of those names was IDF Veteran Danny Lewin, the first person killed on 9/11/2001;

One of those names I just learned from The Falling Man, an Esquire article I just read for the first time:

They began jumping not long after the first plane hit the North Tower, not long after the fire started. They kept jumping until the tower fell. They jumped through windows already broken and then, later, through windows they broke themselves. They jumped to escape the smoke and the fire; they jumped when the ceilings fell and the floors collapsed; they jumped just to breathe once more before they died. They jumped continually, from all four sides of the building, and from all floors above and around the building’s fatal wound. They jumped from the offices of Marsh & McLennan, the insurance company; from the offices of Cantor Fitzgerald, the bond-trading company; from Windows on the World, the restaurant on the 106th and 107th floors—the top. For more than an hour and a half, they streamed from the building, one after another, consecutively rather than en masse, as if each individual required the sight of another individual jumping before mustering the courage to jump himself or herself. One photograph, taken at a distance, shows people jumping in perfect sequence, like parachutists, forming an arc composed of three plummeting people, evenly spaced. Indeed, there were reports that some tried parachuting, before the force generated by their fall ripped the drapes, the tablecloths, the desperately gathered fabric, from their hands. They were all, obviously, very much alive on their way down, and their way down lasted an approximate count of ten seconds. They were all, obviously, not just killed when they landed but destroyed, in body though not, one prays, in soul. One hit a fireman on the ground and killed him; the fireman’s body was anointed by Father Mychal Judge, whose own death, shortly thereafter, was embraced as an example of martyrdom after the photograph—the redemptive tableau—of firefighters carrying his body from the rubble made its way around the world.

The Falling Man was Jonathan Eric Briley:

Jonathan Eric Briley came into this world on March 5, 1958, to Marie and Alexander Briley, and he departed this world on September 11, 2001.

He received his elementary and secondary education through the Mount Vernon, New York, public school system, and he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University, New York. His expertise took him into the profession of Sound Engineer for various corporations such as Arrowwood in Rye Brook, New York, The Hilton, The Marriott, and Windows On The World at the World Trade Center in New York City.

Jonathan accepted Christ at an early age. In his teenage years, he was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, New Rochelle, New York. There, he served in the Christian Education Ministry and the Music Ministry. At the time of his death, he worshiped at First Baptist Church of Elmsford, New York, where he was ordained as a Deacon on March 11, 2001 and served as a armor bearer for his father and pastor, Rev. Alexander Briley Jr.

Jonathan, imbued with the spirit of humility, never failed to look for an opportunity to be of service. He used his skills as an Audio Engineer in churches up and down the east coast. The quiet, peaceful spirit that resided in his 6’5 ½” frame was a beacon of light and warmth that was felt by everyone who came in contact with him. His sense of humor attested to the joy of his spirit. His patience was a source of strength to everyone he met. Jonathan’s life blessed God because of the fruits of The Holy Spirit.

He fell in love with Hillary Mattox (Miss Thing), and on July 23, 1994, they were joined together in holy matrimony.

Jonathan (affectionately known as Slim by Tim and Mister by Hillary) is survived by his wife Hillary Briley; his parents, Rev. and Mrs. Alexander Briley Jr.; his brother, Alexander Briley III of Mount Vernon; his sister Gwendolyn Strand of Ft. Washington, Maryland; his sister, Joanne Briley; his brother, Timothy Briley, both of Mount Vernon; one brother-in-law, Edward Strand; one niece, Michelle Christian; one nephew, Edward Eric Strand; one great nephew, Jordan Alexander Christian; three aunts; one uncle; and a host of relatives and friends.

The Esquire article noted:

One hit a fireman on the ground and killed him; the fireman’s body was anointed by Father Mychal Judge, whose own death, shortly thereafter, was embraced as an example of martyrdom after the photograph—the redemptive tableau—of firefighters carrying his body from the rubble made its way around the world.

We covered the life and story of that fireman in 2017. His name was Danny Suhr.

Those firemen who survived must be haunted by the memories:

In 2015, we covered the firemen of FDNY Squad 1 Memorial, Park Slope, Brooklyn. They had names.

One of those names may be familiar to you. Squad 1 member Steven Siller is remembered by an annual Tunnels to Towers 5k run:

On September 11th, 2001, firefighter Stephen Siller had just gotten off the late shift at Squad 1, Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was on his way to play golf with his brothers on that bright clear day when his scanner told of the first plane hitting the Twin Towers. When he heard the news, he called his wife Sally to tell her he would be late because he had to help those in need.

He returned to Squad 1 to get his gear, then took his final heroic steps to the World Trade Center. When Stephen drove his truck to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, it was already closed to traffic . With sixty pounds of gear strapped to his back, he ran through the Tunnel, hoping to meet up with his own company. Stephen laid down his life on 9/11.

Ever since, the Siller Family has honored his legacy with the Tunnel to Towers Run. The event supports children who have lost a parent, firefighters and military who have been seriously injured and sacrificed their quality of life in the line of duty.

Steven Siller’s brother Frank now heads the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides mortgage free and disability-modified homes to the families of fallen and injured heroes. You’ve probably seen the commercials on TV:

In 2018, we covered another fireman and his policeman brother, both of whom died on 9/11 and were from my hometown, Roslyn, NY. Their names were Thomas and Peter Langone.

Why have I focused so heavily on firemen? It wasn’t deliberate or planned. It’s just that among my memories is hearing the stories from survivors of the fireman climbing up the stairwells in the World Trade Towers loaded with heavy equipment as office workers were heading down the stairs to safety.

What kind of person knowingly walks into perilous danger to save others? Hundreds of firemen on 9/11, all of whom had names.

All 343 911wtc Killed at the World Trade Center September 11, 2001 This page was assembled by Don Van Holt Webmaster for NYFD.COM
	Joseph Agnello, Lad.118		Lt. Brian Ahearn, Bat.13		Eric Allen, Sqd.18 (D)		Richard Allen, Lad.15		Cpt. James Amato, Sqd.1		Calixto Anaya Jr., Eng.4
	Joseph Angelini, Res.1 (D)		Joseph Angelini Jr., Lad.4		Faustino Apostol Jr., Bat.2		David Arce, Eng.33		Louis Arena, Lad.5 (D)		Carl Asaro, Bat.9
	Lt. Gregg Atlas, Eng.10		Gerald Atwood, Lad.21		Gerald Baptiste, Lad.9		A.C. Gerard Barbara, Cmd. Ctr.		Matthew Barnes, Lad.25		Arthur Barry, Lad.15
	Lt.Steven Bates, Eng.235		Carl Bedigian, Eng.214		Stephen Belson, Bat.7		John Bergin, Res.5		Paul Beyer, Eng.6		Peter Bielfeld, Lad.42
	Brian Bilcher, Sqd.1		Carl Bini, Res.5		Christopher Blackwell, Res.3		Michael Bocchino, Bat.48		Frank Bonomo, Eng.230		Gary Box, Sqd.1
	Michael Boyle, Eng.33		Kevin Bracken, Eng.40		Michael Brennan, Lad.4		Peter Brennan, Res.4		Cpt. Daniel Brethel, Lad.24 (D)		Cpt. Patrick Brown, Lad.3
	Andrew Brunn, Lad.5 (D)		Cpt. Vincent Brunton, Lad.105		F.M. Ronald Bucca		Greg Buck, Eng.201		Cpt. William Burke Jr., Eng.21		A.C. Donald Burns, Cmd. Ctr.
	John Burnside, Lad.20		Thomas Butler, Sqd.1		Patrick Byrne, Lad.101		George Cain, Lad.7		Salvatore Calabro, Lad.101		Cpt. Frank Callahan, Lad.35
	Michael Cammarata, Lad.11		Brian Cannizzaro, Lad.101		Dennis Carey, Hmc.1		Michael Carlo, Eng.230		Michael Carroll, Lad.3		Peter Carroll, Sqd.1 (D)
	Thomas Casoria, Eng.22		Michael Cawley, Lad.136		Vernon Cherry, Lad.118		Nicholas Chiofalo, Eng.235		John Chipura, Eng.219		Michael Clarke, Lad.2
	Steven Coakley, Eng.217		Tarel Coleman, Sqd.252		John Collins, Lad.25		Robert Cordice, Sqd.1		Ruben Correa, Eng.74		James Coyle, Lad.3
	Robert Crawford, Safety		Lt. John Crisci, H.M.		B.C. Dennis Cross, Bat.57 (D)		Thomas Cullen III, Sqd. 41		Robert Curatolo, Lad.16 (D)		Lt. Edward D’Atri, Sqd.1
	Michael D’Auria, Eng.40		Scott Davidson, Lad.118		Edward Day, Lad.11		B.C. Thomas DeAngelis, Bat. 8		Manuel Delvalle, Eng.5		Martin DeMeo, H.M. 1
	David DeRubbio, Eng.226		Lt. Andrew Desperito, Eng.1 (D)		B.C. Dennis Devlin, Bat.9		Gerard Dewan, Lad.3		George DiPasquale, Lad.2		Lt. Kevin Donnelly, Lad.3
	Lt. Kevin Dowdell, Res.4		B.C. Raymond Downey, Soc.		Gerard Duffy, Lad.21		Cpt. Martin Egan, Jr., Div.15 (D)		Michael Elferis, Eng.22		Francis Esposito, Eng.235
	Lt. Michael Esposito, Sqd.1		Robert Evans, Eng.33		B.C. John Fanning, H.O.		Cpt. Thomas Farino, Eng.26		Terrence Farrell, Res.4		Cpt. Joseph Farrelly, Div.1
	Dep. Comm. William Feehan, (D)		Lee Fehling, Eng.235		Alan Feinberg, Bat.9		Michael Fiore, Res.5		Lt. John Fischer, Lad.20		Andre Fletcher, Res.5
	John Florio, Eng.214		Lt. Michael Fodor, Lad.21		Thomas Foley, Res.3		David Fontana, Sqd.1		Robert Foti, Lad.7		Andrew Fredericks, Sqd.18
	Lt. Peter Freund, Eng.55		Thomas Gambino Jr., Res.3		Chief of Dept. Peter Ganci, Jr. (D)		Lt. Charles Garbarini, Bat.9		Thomas Gardner, Hmc.1		Matthew Garvey, Sqd.1
	Bruce Gary, Eng.40		Gary Geidel, Res.1		B.C. Edward Geraghty, Bat.9		Dennis Germain, Lad.2		Lt. Vincent Giammona, Lad.5		James Giberson, Lad.35
	Ronnie Gies, Sqd.288		Paul Gill, Eng.54		Lt. John Ginley, Eng.40		Jeffrey Giordano, Lad.3		John Giordano, Hmc.1		Keith Glascoe, Lad.21
	James Gray, Lad.20		B.C. Joseph Grzelak, Bat.48		Jose Guadalupe, Eng.54		Lt. Geoffrey Guja, Bat.43		Lt. Joseph Gullickson, Lad.101		David Halderman, Sqd.18
	Lt. Vincent Halloran, Lad.8		Robert Hamilton, Sqd.41		Sean Hanley, Lad.20 (D)		Thomas Hannafin, Lad.5		Dana Hannon, Eng.26		Daniel Harlin, Lad.2
	Lt. Harvey Harrell, Res.5		Lt. Stephen Harrell, Bat.7		Cpt. Thomas Haskell, Jr., Div.15		Timothy Haskell, Sqd.18 (D)		Cpt. Terence Hatton, Res.1		Michael Haub, Lad.4
	Lt. Michael Healey, Sqd.41		John Hefferman, Lad.11		Ronnie Henderson, Eng.279		Joseph Henry, Lad.21		William Henry, Res.1 (D)		Thomas Hetzel, Lad.13
	Cpt. Brian Hickey, Res.4		Lt. Timothy Higgins, S.O.C.		Jonathan Hohmann, Hmc.1		Thomas Holohan, Eng.6		Joseph Hunter, Sqd.288		Cpt. Walter Hynes, Lad.13 (D)
	Jonathan Ielpi, Sqd.288		Cpt. Frederick Ill Jr., Lad.2		William Johnston, Eng.6		Andrew Jordan, Lad.132		Karl Joseph, Eng.207		Lt. Anthony Jovic, Bat.47
	Angel Juarbe Jr., Lad.12		Mychal Judge, Chaplain (D)		Vincent Kane, Eng.22		B.C. Charles Kasper, S.O.C.		Paul Keating, Lad.5		Richard Kelly Jr., Lad.11
	Thomas R. Kelly, Lad.15		Thomas W. Kelly, Lad.105		Thomas Kennedy, Lad.101		Lt. Ronald Kerwin, Sqd.288		Michael Kiefer, Lad.132		Robert King Jr., Eng.33
	Scott Kopytko, Lad.15		William Krukowski, Lad.21		Kenneth Kumpel, Lad.25		Thomas Kuveikis, Sqd.252		David LaForge, Lad.20		William Lake, Res.2
	Robert Lane, Eng.55		Peter Langone, Sqd.252		Scott Larsen, Lad.15		Lt. Joseph Leavey, Lad.15		Neil Leavy, Eng.217		Daniel Libretti, Res.2
	Carlos Lillo, Paramedic		Robert Linnane, Lad.20		Michael Lynch, Eng.40		Michael Lynch, Lad.4		Michael Lyons, Sqd.41		Patrick Lyons, Sqd.252
	Joseph Maffeo, Lad.101		William Mahoney, Res 4		Joseph Maloney, Lad.3 (D)		B.C. Joseph Marchbanks Jr, Bat.12		Lt. Charles Margiotta, Bat.22		Kenneth Marino, Res.1
	John Marshall, Eng.23		Lt. Peter Martin, Res.2		Lt. Paul Martini, Eng.23		Joseph Mascali, T.S.U. 2		Keithroy Maynard, Eng.33		Brian McAleese, Eng.226
	John McAvoy, Lad.3		Thomas McCann, Bat.8		Lt. William McGinn, Sqd.18		B.C. William McGovern, Bat.2 (D)		Dennis McHugh, Lad.13		Robert McMahon, Lad.20
	Robert McPadden, Eng.23		Terence McShane, Lad.101		Timothy McSweeney, Lad.3		Martin McWilliams, Eng.22 (D)		Raymond Meisenheimer, Res.3		Charles Mendez, Lad.7
	Steve Mercado, Eng.40		Douglas Miller, Res.5		Henry Miller Jr, Lad.105		Robert Minara, Lad.25		Thomas Mingione, Lad.132		Lt. Paul Mitchell, Bat.1
	Capt. Louis Modafferi, Res.5		Lt. Dennis Mojica, Res.1 (D)		Manuel Mojica, Sqd.18 (D)		Carl Molinaro, Lad.2		Michael Montesi, Res.1		Capt. Thomas Moody, Div.1
	B.C. John Moran, Bat.49		Vincent Morello, Lad.35		Christopher Mozzillo, Eng.55		Richard Muldowney Jr, Lad.07		Michael Mullan, Lad.12		Dennis Mulligan, Lad.2
	Lt. Raymond Murphy, Lad.16		Lt. Robert Nagel, Eng.58		John Napolitano, Res.2		Peter Nelson, Res.4		Gerard Nevins, Res.1		Dennis O’Berg, Lad.105
	Lt. Daniel O’Callaghan, Lad.4		Douglas Oelschlager, Lad.15		Joseph Ogren, Lad.3		Lt. Thomas O’Hagan, Bat.4		Samuel Otice, Lad.4		Patrick O’Keefe, Res.1
	Capt. William O’Keefe, Div.15 (D)		Eric Olsen, Lad.15		Jeffery Olsen, Eng.10		Steven Olson, Lad.3		Kevin O’Rourke, Res.2		Michael Otten, Lad.35
	Jeffery Palazzo, Res.5		B.C. Orio Palmer, Bat.7		Frank Palombo, Lad.105		Paul Pansini, Eng.10		B.C. John Paolillo, Bat.11		James Pappageorge, Eng.23
	Robert Parro, Eng.8		Durrell Pearsall, Res.4		Lt. Glenn Perry, Bat.12		Lt. Philip Petti, Bat.7		Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, Eng. 33		Lt. Kenneth Phelan, Bat.32
	Christopher Pickford, Eng.201		Shawn Powell, Eng.207		Vincent Princiotta, Lad.7		Kevin Prior, Sqd.252		B.C. Richard Prunty, Bat.2 (D)		Lincoln Quappe, Res.2
	Lt. Michael Quilty, Lad.11		Ricardo Quinn, Paramedic		Leonard Ragaglia, Eng.54		Michael Ragusa, Eng.279		Edward Rall, Res.2		Adam Rand, Sqd.288
	Donald Regan, Res.3		Lt. Robert Regan, Lad.118		Christian Regenhard, Lad.131		Kevin Reilly, Eng.207		Lt. Vernon Richard, Lad.7		James Riches, Eng.4
	Joseph Rivelli, Lad.25		Michael Roberts, Eng.214		Michael E. Roberts, Lad.35		Anthony Rodriguez, Eng.279		Matthew Rogan, Lad.11		Nicholas Rossomando, Res.5
	Paul Ruback, Lad.25		Stephen Russell, Eng.55		Lt. Michael Russo, S.O.C.		B.C. Matthew Ryan, Bat.1		Thomas Sabella, Lad.13		Christopher Santora, Eng.54
	John Santore, Lad.5 (D)		Gregory Saucedo, Lad.5		Dennis Scauso, H.M. 1		John Schardt, Eng.201		B.C. Fred Scheffold, Bat.12		Thomas Schoales, Eng.4
	Gerard Schrang, Res.3 (D)		Gregory Sikorsky, Sqd.41		Stephen Siller, Sqd.1		Stanley Smagala Jr, Eng.226		Kevin Smith, H.M. 1		Leon Smith Jr, Lad 118
	Robert Spear Jr, Eng.26		Joseph Spor, Res.3		B.C. Lawrence Stack, Bat.50		Cpt. Timothy Stackpole, Div.11 (D)		Gregory Stajk, Lad.13		Jeffery Stark, Eng.230
	Benjamin Suarez, Lad.21		Daniel Suhr, Eng.216 (D)		Lt. Christopher Sullivan, Lad.111		Brian Sweeney, Res.1		Sean Tallon, Lad.10		Allan Tarasiewicz, Res.5
	Paul Tegtmeier, Eng.4		John Tierney, Lad.9		John Tipping II, Lad.4		Hector Tirado Jr, Eng.23		Richard Van Hine, Sqd.41		Peter Vega, Lad.118
	Lawrence Veling, Eng.235		John Vigiano II, Lad.132		Sergio Villanueva, Lad.132		Lawrence Virgilio, Sqd.18 (D)		Lt. Robert Wallace, Eng.205		Jeffery Walz, Lad. 9
	Lt. Michael Warchola, Lad.5 (D)		Capt. Patrick Waters, S.O.C.		Kenneth Watson, Eng.214		Michael Weinberg, Eng.1 (D)		David Weiss, Res.1		Timothy Welty, Sqd.288
	Eugene Whelan, Eng.230		Edward White, Eng.230		Mark Whitford, Eng.23		Lt. Glenn Wilkinson, Eng.238 (D)		B.C. John Williamson, Bat.6 (D)		Capt. David Wooley, Lad.4
	Raymond York, Eng.285 (D)

So 9/11 after 20 years is not, for me, about the Towers burning and collapsing. It’s about the names, as Mandy poignantly wrote in 2013, in what would be her last 9/11 post, Remembering September 11th and the importance of loved ones and endurance:

The morning of September 11th, 2001, I was sitting in my office at a prior job, admiring the beautiful blue sky outside my window, when my phone rang.

“I can’t reach your brother anymore. His phone cut off. He was running and his phone just died,” my mother cried on the other end.

For a moment, I had no idea why she was upset or what she was talking about.  But then another line rang and a friend’s voice, equally upset, screamed to me, “They’re flying planes into buildings where your brother is.”

I sat stunned for a minute, paralyzed with fear and dread.  I opened my office door and there was an eerie feeling in the air.  It was noisy, yet quiet and somber at the same time….

My brother worked for a Wall Street brokerage firm at the time, just steps away from the World Trade Center.  By now, my mom had explained to me that she’d been on the phone with him while he’d been running from his building.  He’d called her, absolutely frantic, trying to tell her that planes had hit the Twin Towers and he was trying to escape the area.  He was describing an absolutely horrific scene of destruction and death as my mom cried on the other end.  And then the phone went dead….

I drove straight to my mother’s house, where the whole family gathered and waited to hear from my brother again, not knowing if he was safe.  Every few minutes, the phone would ring and it would be a family member or friend, checking to see if he had made it out and home safely….

It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that we’d finally heard back from him.  He’d borrowed the phone of a stranger and was able to get the call through to let us know he’d made it across the Brooklyn Bridge by foot and could hitch a ride to an exit on a nearby highway, where I had later picked him up myself.

We all spent the night together at my parents’ house, thankful to know that my brother was safe, but heartbroken about what our country was enduring.

My mother still has that stranger’s phone number written down and saved on a piece of paper.

September 11^th taught me the importance of family and loved ones in our lives, as well as the compassion of those we may not know, and that we can never, ever take life for granted….

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